Green Paper on Urban Transport: citizens and
stakeholders have high expectations for European urban transport
policy

The consultations to prepare a new Green Paper on
Urban Transport ended today with a major stakeholder conference in Brussels,
"Towards a European policy for urban transport”. The event gathered around
350 participants from all sectors with an interest in urban transport. High
level representatives from cities and from the European Institutions presented
their expectations of the Green Paper, commented on results of the
consultations, and addressed the added value of actions at European
level.

Commission Vice-President, Jacques Barrot, in charge of transport,
re-affirmed the importance he attaches to urban transport: "I am delighted
with the large amount of feedback that we have received during the consultation
process. This input will help us to better understand the reality of Europe's
cities and the expectations of citizens."

The Green Paper on Urban Transport was announced in the mid-term review of
the Transport White Paper. It is among the 21 strategic priorities of the
Commission for 2007 and will be published this autumn. “I want to
prepare a Green Paper that can take the debate forward by asking the right
questions. My idea is not to impose solutions but to enable them. The Green
Paper and its follow-up activities will form the basis of a genuine European
policy on urban transport, one which reinforces policies at other levels of
government in particular the cities themselves", Vice-President Barrot
added.

In order to collect the different views on the Green Paper and urban
transport in general, the European Commission organised between January and June
2007 an internet consultation, four technical workshops and two stakeholder
conferences.

Over 900 responses from citizens and stakeholder organisations were received
to the internet consultation. Two-thirds of the respondents ask the EU to take
action so as to tackle transport problems in urban areas, with congestion and
pollution being the most important challenges. Nearly seven out of ten
respondents indicate that public transport improvements should be a priority for
EU policy. The consultation also confirmed the need for EU action to help
develop and implement joint solutions of European interest.

Other priority areas include the exchange of best practices, the promotion of
RTD activities, and initiatives to increase the market acceptance of new
technologies, as well as innovative and intelligent transport solutions. Seven
out of ten respondents expect the EU to help strengthen the markets for the
European urban transport industry. Four out of five indicate that public
transport vehicles should be clean and energy efficient. More information on
the Green Paper and the consultation process can be found at: